Neuromuscular blocking activity of a glycosidic extract of the plant Sarcolobus globosus

Toxicon. 1990;28(10):1237-9. doi: 10.1016/0041-0101(90)90123-o.

Abstract

Crude glycoside extracts from the plant, Sarcolobus globosus, were tested on the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm, chick biventer cervicis and frog rectus abdominis preparations. Nerve-stimulated twitches were inhibited by the extract. The muscle paralysis was not similar to that by curare-like blockers as it was not reversed by neostigmine or by a tetanus. Although contractures to acetylcholine or carbachol were not affected by 0.6 mg/ml of the extract, higher concentration of the extracts (3 mg/ml) depressed the log dose-response curve of acetylcholine and carbachol. The results suggest that the neuromuscular blocking effect of the extracts is either dose-dependent or due to a mixture of toxins with presynaptic or postsynaptic actions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • Glycosides / pharmacology*
  • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Ranidae
  • Rats
  • Seeds*

Substances

  • Glycosides
  • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
  • Plant Extracts